Method for forming water candles

ABSTRACT

A method for forming water candles and other decorative enclosures starting with an elongate candle stem or other stem support formed with an enlarged base. According to the method the bottom of the candle stem base is immersed in a container of water or other cooling fluid medium and a molten thermoplastic material is poured onto and around the enlarged base so that it runs off the base onto the surface of the water forming a substantially horizontal film over the surface of the water surrounding and extending from the base. An edge of the film is depressed to permit water from the container to run across the top of the film and cool and thereby harden molten thermoplastic material on the top of the film around the candle stem. The candle stem is gradually depressed into the container of water while pouring molten thermoplastic material around the perimeter of the hardened film which extends substantially horizontally from the candle base thereby initiating the formation of a substantially vertical sidewall around the candle stem. During pouring of the sidewall, a hold is formed adjacent the bottom of the wall to permit water to enter around the stem of the candle. The candle stem is further depressed while pouring molten thermoplastic material around selected portions of the perimeter until the wall is formed to desired height and the material has cooled and hardened.

Nov. s, 1913 J. A. RALLES 3.770365 METHOD FOR FORMING WATER CANDLES Filed Jan. 17, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 6, 1973 J. A. RALLES METHOD FOR FORMING WATER CANDLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1972 FIG 7 FIG 9 'FIG 1O United States Patent 3,770,865 METHOD FOR FORMING WATER CANDLES James Allen Ralles, 795 Alma St., Palo Alto, Calif. 94301 Filed Jan. 17, 1972, Ser. No. 218,147

Int. Cl. B29c 5/00 US. Cl. 264-279 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method for forming water candles and other decorative enclosures starting with an elongate candle stem or other stem support formed with an enlarged base. According to the method the bottom of the candle stem base is immersed in a container of water or other cooling fluid medium and a molten thermoplastic material is poured onto and around the enlarged base so that it runs off the base onto the surface of the water forming a substantially horizontal film over the surface of the water surrounding and extending from the base. An edge of the film is depressed to permit water from the container to run across the top of the film and cool and thereby harden molten thermoplastic material on the top of the film around the candle stem. The candle stem is gradually depressed into the container of water while pouring molten thermoplastic material around the perimeter of the hardened film which extends substantially horizontally from the candle base thereby initiating the formation of a substantially vertical sidewall around the candle stem. During pouring of the sidewall, a hole is formed adjacent the bottom of the wall to permit water to enter around the stem of the candle. The candle stem is further depressed while pouring molten thermoplastic material around selected portions of the perimeter until the wall is formed to desired height and the material has cooled and hardened.

This invention relates to a new and improved method for forming decorative and fanciful water candles and other useful decorative enclosures such as lampshades.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new method for forming artistic and esthetic water candles and decorative enclosures for use as lampshades, etc. from waxes, plastics, resins and other thermoplastic materials.

The present invention contemplates using an elongate candle stem or other starting support stem formed with an enlarged base preferably having a flat bottom and surface inclining toward the stem. A container of water having a size and depth sufiicient to immerse the entire water candle or decorative enclosure upon completion is also provided. A variety of cooling liquids and fluids can be used instead of water and the references to water herein are intended to encompass cooling fluids generally. According to one example of the method of the present invention, an artistic and esthetic water candle is formed by immersing the bottom of the candle stem base into the surface of the water in the container and pouring molten thermoplastic material onto the inclined surface of the enlarged base so that it runs off the base onto the surface of the water forming a continuous film extending from the base over the surface of the water. The molten material is poured all the way around the base so that a substantially horizontal film is provided over the surface of the water surrounding and extending from the base. The bottom of the film in contact with the water hardens supporting a puddle of molten material on top. An edge of the film is then depressed to permit water from the container to run across the top of the film and cool and thereby harden molten thermoplastic material on the top of the film around the candle stem.

The method proceeds by gradually depressing the candle stem further into the container of water while pouring molten thermoplastic material around the perimeter of the hardened film which extends substantially horizontally from the candle base thereby initiating formation of a substantially vertical sidewall surrounding the candle stem. A hole is formed adjacent the bottom of the sidewall during pouring of the sidewall to permit water to enter around the stem of the candle for cooling both sides of the sidewall during forming. A hole can be formed by pouring a bridge of material at the edge of the perimeter where the film was depressed or indented to permit water to enter around the candle stern.

Finally, the invention contemplates further depressing the candle stem base and sidewalls into the water container while pouring molten thermoplastic material around selected portions of the perimeter until the wall is formed to desired height and the thermoplastic material has cooled and hardened.

The method of the present invention is applicable not only for forming decorative water candles, but also for forming decorative translucent enclosures generally for use, for example, with electrical lamps and an electric lamp embodiment is also described herein. In this regard, the word stem as used hereinafter in the claims is defined and intended to refer not only to candle stems but to elongate support stems generally for use in the method of forming the decorative enclosure.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a suitable elongate candle stem with enlarged base in position over a container of water and the step of pouring molten thermoplastic material around the enlarged base in accordance with the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of further progression in the step of pouring the molten thermoplastic material around the enlarged base of the stem so that it runs off the base over the surface of the water hardening and forming a film;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the candle stem with substantially horizontal film extending from around the base over the surface of the water and with still molten thermoplastic material on the surface of the film around the candle stem;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the step of depressing an edge of the film to permit water to run over the surface of the film contacting, cooling and hardening molten thermoplastic material retained around the base of the candle stem;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the step of gradually depressing the candle stem into the water while pouring molten thermoplastic material around the perimeter of the substantially horizontal film extending from the candle stem base to form a sidewall while preserving a hole at one edge of the perimeter where the film was depressed to permit water to enter around the candle stem;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic perspective views of progressive stages of the continuing step of depressing the stem of the water candle into the container of water while pouring molten thermoplastic material around the perimeter to build up a substantially vertical sidewall;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the completed hardened decorative enclosure with sidewalls built to selected heights immersed in the container of water;

FIG. 9 is a side cross sectional view of the completed water candle;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view in inverted position of the decorative enclosure used as a lampshade for an electric lightbulb.

In accordance with the example of the method of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, a starting support or stem is provided in the form of an elongate candle stem as shown in FIG. 1. The candle stem 10 is formed with an enlarged base 11 in this case having a substantially fiat bottom from which the base tapers upwardly and inwardly to the bottom of the stem 10. The flat bottom of base 11 is immersed in the top layer of water retained within container 12 which is of sufficient size and depth to receive the entire water candle and decorative enclosure as hereinafter more fully set forth. A variety of fluid cooling media can be used in addition to water. A source 13 of molten thermoplastic material is prepared preferably with a spout or similar means to facilitate pouring the molten thermoplastic material in a defined stream. The decorative enclosure can be formed using, for example, melted wax, plastic, polyethylene resin, or combinations thereof. A variety of polymers and plastics mixed With Wax can be used. One example of a refined wax suitable for the process of the present invention is Paragon Micro and 145 taper.

As shown in FIGS. 13 the molten wax or other molten thermoplastic material 14 is slowly poured around the inclined upper surface of the enlarged base 11 on candle stem 10 so that the wax or other thermoplastic material runs off the enlarged base forming a continuous film over the surface of the water until a substantially horizontal base film 15 is formed entirely surrounding the candle stem base and extending out over the surface of the water. Close approximation to a circular configuration concentric around the stem is preferred. Slow rotation of the stem can be useful in forming the concentric film.

As shown in FIG. 3 the substantially horizontal base film 15 extending from the base of candle stem 10 undergoes hardening but retains on its surface around the base of candle stem 10 a pool of molten thermoplastic material. The candle stem may be depressed slightly into the container to increase the depth of the molten pool 15a. At this point one side or edge of the substantially horizontal film is depressed or indented as, for example, in FIG. 4 by means of finger 16 in order to permit water from the container 12 to run over the surface of the film to contact, cool and harden the molten material retained around the base of the stem 10. The side or edge can be depressed also in more than one place to facilitate entry of water.

As shown in FIG. 5 the candle stem 10, to which a further extension or support stem 17 has been firmly attached to permit deeper depression into the container of water, is gradually depressed to a greater depth in the water while a stream of molten material 14 is poured around the perimeter 18 of the substantially horizontal film base extending from the candle stem. As the candle stem is gradually depressed and a stream of molten thermoplastic material poured around the perimeter, a substantially vertical sidewall 20 is built up around the candle stem as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. During pouring, however, a hole is preserved at the base of the sidewall to permit water to enter the forming enclosure to cool the forming sidewall from both sides and equalize pressure. This hole can be easily preserved at the point of depression of the horizontal film 15.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 6 the stream 14 of molten wax or other thermoplastic material poured around the perimeter on the growing sidewall forms a molten ring 21 which grows and hardens as the candle is further depressed forming the sidewall in a decorative manner having thickness, shape texture and height to a great extent controlled by the pourer, according to the rate of pouring, rate of downward motion of the stem and temperature. The walls tend to taper inward during formation and the extent of taper is similarly controlled. The process is further illustrated in FIG. 7 with the sidewall built to a greater depth and with the candle stem now completely submerged within the tank of water so that the entire water candle and decorative enclosure is supported by the stem extension 17. The sidewall is then built to selective heights and pinnacles 22, as desired. For example, thicker portions of molten material such as that illustrated at 22 on the perimetrical edge of the sidewall can be developed into peaks nad pinnacles above the height of the remaining sidewall for decorative effect.

The completed decorative enclosure and water candle is illustrated in FIG. 8 as it appears after complete immersion in the container of water and after cessation of pouring of the molten material. After withdrawal of the cooled and hardened enclosure from the container with the water drained from the enclosure, the water candle is shown in cross section in FIG. 9. The thickness, texture, and decorative effects can to a great extent be controlled during pouring by controlling the rate of addition of molten material, the rate of submersion in the water container, angular variation, and the type of molten starting material.

In FIG. 10 the inverted water candle decorative enclosure is used as a lampshade with esthetic eifect because of its translucency. The method of forming such a lampshade is the same as that described above, except that rather than using a central candle stem for starting the process a removable stem is used to support and initiate the enclosure forming process so that it can subsequently be removed and replaced with an electrical fixture 25.

As heretofore described, the useful and decorative enclosures for Water candles, lamp shades, etc. can be formed from a variety of thermoplastic materials including waxes, resins, plastics and mixtures thereof and pouring the thermoplastic material in accordance with the steps of the present invention into a variety of cooling liquids and fluids such as water, provided that the thermoplastic material is fioatable in the cooling fluid.

I claim:

1. A method for forming decorative enclosures comprising:

providing an elongate candle stem formed with an enlarged base;

immersing the bottom of the base in a container of fluid cooling medium;

pouring onto said enlarged base a molten wax-like thermoplastic material, which is floatable on the fluid cooling medium and is a wax, polyethylene resin, or combination thereof, so that it runs off the base onto the surface of the cooling medium forming a continuous film extending from the base over the surface of the cooling medium and pouring the film around the top of the base so that a substantially horizontal film of said material is provided over the surface of the cooling medium substantially surrounding and extending from the base;

depressing an edge of the film to permit fluid from the container to run across the top of the film and encounter, cool and thereby harden molten thermoplastic material on the top of the film around the stem;

gradually depressing the stem into the container of fluid while pouring molten thermoplastic material around the perimeter of the hardening film which extends substantially horizontally from the base thereby forming a substantially vertical sidewall surrounding the stem;

forming a hole adjacent the bottom of the sidewall during pouring of the sidewall and prior to hardening of the thermoplastic material to permit fluid to enter around the stem;

and further depressing the stem, base and sidewalls into the fluid container while pouring molten thermoplastic material around selected portions of the perimeter until the wall is formed to desired height and the thermoplastic material has cooled and hardened.

2. A method for forming water candles comprising:

providing an elongate candle stem formed with an enlarged base having a flat bottom and a surface inclining from the flat bottom toward the stem;

immersing the bottom of the base in a container of water;

pouring onto the inclined surface of the enlarged base molten wax-like thermoplastic material which is floatable on said water and is a wax, polyethylene resin or combination thereof, so that it runs off the base onto the surface of the water forming a continuous film extending from the base over the surface of the water and pouring the film around the top of the base so that a substantially horizontal film of said material is provided over the surface of the water substantially surrounding and extending from the base; wherein said water serves as a cooling medium;

depressing the candle stem and enlarged base slightly into the water while pouring the molten thermoplastic material whereby the under surface of the film undergoes cooling and hardening while retaining molten material on the top of the film around the candle stem;

depressing an edge of the film to permit water from the container to run across the top of the film and encounter, cool and thereby harden molten thermoplastic material on the top of the film around the candle stem;

gradually depressing the candle stem further into the container of water while pouring molten thermoplastic material around the perimeter of the hardened film extending substantially horizontally from the candle base thereby forming a. substantially vertical sidewall surrounding the candle stem;

forming a hole adjacent the bottom of the sidewall during pouring of the sidewall and prior to hardening of the thermoplastic material to permit water to enter around the stem of the candle for cooling both sides of the sidewall during forming;

and further depressing the candle stem, base and sidewalls into the water container while pouring molten thermoplastic material around selected portions of the perimeter until the wall is formed to desired height and the thermoplastic material has cooled and v hardened.

3. A method for forming water candles as set forth in claim 2 wherein is provided the step of rotating the stem during pouring of thermoplastic material onto the enlarged base.

4. A method for forming water candles as set forth in claim 2 wherein is provided the step of controlling the rate of pouring and the rate of downward motion of the stem during formation of the vertical sidewalls in order to control the thickness of said walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,485,372 10/1949 Farrell 264298 1,622,342 3/1927 Rhoads 425803 ROBERT F. WHITE, Primary Examiner T. E. BALHOFF, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 264-298 

